HIV-infected pregnant women and vertical transmission in Europe since 1986

Prospective study. Methods: Analysis of prospective data on 2876 pregnant HIV-infected women and their 3076 infants. Factors examined included maternal socio-demographic, immunological and virological characteristics, antiretroviral therapy and pregnancy outcome. Results: Among women enrolled, the proportion with heterosexual acquisition of infection has increased significantly from 59% (201/342) in 1985-1987 to 69% (327/ 471) after 1997 while the proportion acquiring HIV through injecting drug use has declined. Overall median CD4 cell count was 440 x 10(6)/l and 41% of women had undetectable viral load at delivery. In 1995 28% (72/256) of mother-child pairs received the full 076 regimen to reduce risk of vertical transmission, rising significantly to 89% (116/130) by 1999. Use of triple therapy started in pregnancy has increased significantly from (1% 1/153) in 1997 to 44% (47/107) in 1999. Exposure to antiretroviral therapy was not associated with prevalence or pattern of congenital abnormalities (P = 0.88) but was associated with reversible anaemia in the infant (P